Neonatal morbidity in early-term newborns

Abstract

Abstract Introduction In the last decades neonatal morbidity has increased significantly. The birth of children from 37 to 38 weeks of gestation, a period called early term, has significantly increased in the past twenty years or so, parallel to the increase in induced deliveries and the caesarean rate. Patients and method Retrospective cohorts’ population study, which included those babies born between 37 and 41 weeks of gestation in the period 1992–2011 (n = 35.539). This population was divided into two cohorts, early-term newborn (RNTP) of 37–38 weeks (n = 11,318), and full-term newborn (RNTC), of 39–41 weeks of gestation (n = 24,221). The rates of caesarean section, neonatal unit admission, respiratory morbidity, apnea, need for assisted ventilation, hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy, hypoglycemia, seizures, hypoxic-ischaemia encephalopathy, need for parenteral nutrition and early sepsis were all reviewed. Results There was a progressive increase in the number of caesarean sections throughout the period studied (from 30.9% to 40.3%). The caesarean section rate was higher in RNTP than in the RNTC (38.3% vs. 31.3%, P Conclusions In our environment there is a significant number of RNTP, which have a significantly higher morbidity than newborns RNTC registered. After individualising each case, it is essential not to end a pregnancy before 39 weeks of gestation, except for maternal, placental or foetal conditions indicating that continuing the pregnancy may increase the risk for the foetus and/or the mother.